Third-party controller options across the board have been pretty strong in recent times. Turtle Beach has always been at the forefront in this regard, with an impressive array of gaming peripherals from across the pricing spectrum. The Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch is just one example, and at face value, it offers a decent proposition for low-budget buyers, with a respectable price point of £49.99/$59.99. Competition in this space is pretty ruthless, though — does the Rematch Wireless do enough to stand out?
Starting with the most obvious feature — the design — the Rematch Wireless impresses. For the Nintendo Switch version there are a handful of great designs to choose from, including lenticular face plates with shifting designs alongside glow-in-the-dark options. All designs are Nintendo themed, too, leveraging the controller’s status as an officially licensed product. If aesthetics are at the top of your controller wish list, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here.
The Nintendo Switch iteration of the Rematch is also compatible with both generations of the console, making it a strong pick for its versatility. However, there’s no C button and it can’t wake the Switch 2 from rest mode, which slightly hampers it against first-party options.
Dig a little deeper into the Rematch Wireless’ features, and it unfortunately becomes a bit of a mixed bag. Starting with the positives: the controller is super lightweight and sits pretty well in the hands, with programmable back buttons for some extra control if you want it. The back buttons have just the right amount of resistance that they can’t be pressed accidentally, but they’re positioned perfectly for when they do need to be accessed.
The thumb sticks have a nice springiness to them that makes them feel premium, with a perfectly-sized well in the centre for good grip. The d-pad — so often the Achilles’ heel of many a gamepad — is not bad either. It’s a single piece affair that’s easy to manipulate in every direction, including for diagonal inputs. Elsewhere, the battery life is also at the top of the range, boasting up to 40 hours on a single charge. For context, that’s the same as Nintendo’s most-recent premium offering, the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Sounds like a home run so far, right? Unfortunately, from here, the Rematch Wireless begins to align more closely with its budget price. The face buttons are inexplicably bad — they’re far too clicky, have way too much resistance, and make a horrid racket with every press. This is honestly a bit of a head-scratcher, as every other input on the controller is miles ahead in terms of quality. Perhaps extended use will wear them in somewhat, but out of the box, they’re a real let-down.
The controller itself is also a little too slippery despite its well-thought out proportions. This is equally down to the double-edged sword of its light weight as well as its build materials — the version that Cubed3 tested was one of the lenticular designs, which has a very slippery faceplate that, for all its virtues, unfortunately leaves the controller feeling a little cheap.
Nevertheless, these quirks are made slightly more forgivable given the budget bracket that the Rematch Wireless sits in. For those in the market for a controller at this price, some give and take is par for the course. When weighed against what the controller gets right, the issues may be considered forgivable, depending on the user. In Cubed3’s estimation this is still a great budget controller option that has a ton of appeal by virtue of its design, and doesn’t do anything unforgivable within its price bracket.
